Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:05 — 20.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | RSS

In the latest episode of Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with author EK Johnston about her career, her background writing fan fiction, and her work within the Star Wars universe.

Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast

The “Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast” is a new series from the team at the Temple of Geek. Portrait of a Fangirl initially began as a web series and has now expanded into a podcast series as well. You can watch and listen to the series both here and on our YouTube channel.  Hosted by Jenna Wrenn, at the core of the project is the importance of telling the stories of women who have found inspiration, growth, and power through fandom.

You can listen to the Temple of Geek Podcast directly on this page or stream it on Apple Podcasts / Google Podcast / iHeart Radio / Stitcher / Spotify and wherever you stream your podcast. You can even watch it on our YouTube channel. 

A Conversation With Author EK Johnston

Being a fangirl looks different to each person. In this episode, EK Johnston discussed her background writing fan fiction and how that helped her develop her Ahsoka novel.

Jenna: I’m a huge fan of Rebels, and I think that they really do such an amazing job fleshing out this adult version of [Ahsoka]. Your book took place before Rebels. So how did you develop this intermittent version of her?

EK Johnston: I think that’s where my career as a fan fiction author comes in handy, because I’m very good at putting characters out of there. If you’ll excuse the term canon timeline, I look at different points and [give] hints about what’s coming without giving it away.

Jenna: You started off writing a lot of fan fiction. How did that help hone your skills later down the road?

EK Johnston: I think two ways. Part of it is just volume. I wrote almost almost half a million words of fanfiction before I started writing original stories. I think more than that actually, because that was when I was I stopped counting.

So in addition to sort of the volume that I was writing, I also developed a community of other writers that I could work with. Some of them would go on to become my critique partners, and they still are.

About Our Guest

EK Johnston is the author of novels within the Star Wars canon such as Crimson Climb, Queen’s Shadow, Queen’s Peril, and Queen’s Hope. She has written multiple novels outside the Star Wars universe, such as Aetherbound, A Thousand Nights, Spindle, and The Afterward.

About our Host

Jenna Wrenn is a podcast host and entertainment correspondent for Temple of Geek. She has also written several articles covering conventions, anime, and much more. Jenna is a historian by trade, writer by passion, and cat mom by birthright.

Jenna loves all things nerdy and can be found playing D&D with her long-standing Sunday night group. Equally important to her, Jenna loves cosplaying, reading, and rewatching Star Wars: Rebels.

For more Fangirl stories, check out:

Rachel Smythe Roundtable Interview at New York Comic Con 2023

Inclusivity, Representation, and the Authentic Self in Content Creating

Emily Zemler on “The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town”

Kayleigh McKee on Creativity, Industry, and Personal Growth

Fandom From Behind the Scenes

The Art of Fangirling with Let’s Play Creator Leeanne Krecic

A Discussion with Graphic Novelist Ghezal Omar

Interview with Ashley Eckstein–Her Universe Fashion Show

Elevating Fandom Through Fashion

The Business of Fangirling

 Creating a Safe Space in Fandom

Integrating Fangirl Culture into Everyday Life

Fangirling to the Best Version of Yourself

Fandom and Self-Discovery

Anne Yatco on Embracing Your Inner Fangirl

The Positive Impacts of the Cosplay Community

How Portrait of a Fangirl Came to Be

The Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast is executive-produced by Monica Duarte, Nathaniel J. Peinado, and Madison Morrow. In addition, it is produced by Jenna Wrenn and Tiffany Cagle. Hosted by Jenna Wrenn and was created under the umbrella of the Temple of Geek Podcast, as an ongoing series. Originally created by Monica Duarte and Emily Schuck for Temple of Geek.